Sipu Jha
A signature-collection petition in support of Harjinder Singh, the truck driver who killed three people in a crash in Florida, is at the center of a fresh row as social media users ask how they were allowed to start a petition in support of the Indian-origin man who was residing in the US illegally. The petition was started by Manisha Kaushal under the name of ‘Collective Punjabi youth’ which argued that Harjinder Singh did not have any criminal intent or history. The incident in which three people died because Singh took a wrong U-turn was a catastrophe and not a criminal act, the petition said. “The driver has no prior record and fully cooperated with authorities…The imposed 45-year sentence is excessively severe given the nature of the accident,” the petition said. The petition urged for reduction the current sentence, grant parole eligibility after Harjinder serves a reduced term, and considering alternative sentencing options.
Harjinder Singh’s accident, major visa fallout
The Florida accident had a major repercussion as the State Department paused issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers. “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.After the road crash, it was found out that Singh entered US illegally and got his driver’s license in Democrat-controlled California. Donald Trump administration blamed the California government for issuing license to illegal aliens while California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office claimed Singh entered the country illegally in 2018 during the Trump administration. The to-and-fro continued as the Trump administration said his work permit was granted by the Biden administration, even after it was canceled by the Trump administration. Singh fled to California after the incident. He was brought back to Florida, where he now faces charges and then deportation.
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